Aim: What is chemistry?

1. Sep. 16, 2010 • Agenda: • Do Now (15 min) • Discussion (20 min) • Group work (5 min) • Announcements (2 min) Do Now: Listen to the following passage read to you and write your response. Would you or would you not ban dihydrogen monoxide. Explain why. Aim: What is chemistry?

2. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide! • The Invisible Killer • Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death. • Dihydrogen monoxide: • is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major component of acid rain. • contributes to the "greenhouse effect." • may cause severe burns. • contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape. • accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals. • may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes. • has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients. DHMO

3. Contamination Is Reaching Epidemic Proportions! • Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in America today. But the pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. DHMO has caused millions of dollars of property damage in the midwest, and recently California. • Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used: • as an industrial solvent and coolant. • in nuclear power plants. • in the production of styrofoam. • as a fire retardant. • in many forms of cruel animal research. • in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical. • as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products. • Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer! DHMO

4. The Horror Must Be Stopped! • The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its "importance to the economic health of this nation." In fact, the navy and other military organizations are conducting experiments with DHMO, and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and utilize it during warfare situations. Hundreds of military research facilities receive tons of it through a highly sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for later use. DHMO

5. Would you or would you not ban dihydrogen monoxide? Explain why.

6. Dihydrogen monoxide is WATER?! Chemistry is all around us, and our misconception of it will lead us to wrong choices. Let’s try to list things that chemistry will let us study. Did you know?

7. All the forms signed are due back Friday, Sep. 17. Home work